National Republican., 1887-01-15

The following speech was delivered in the
Senate last Monday by Senator Stanford, of
California, on the interstate commerce bill !:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: | shall speak to this bill
as understand it. In what shall have to
say upon the measure shall endeavor to be
entirely candid and correct. The import.
ance of the subject is SO great that it can
only be permanently settled upon right
principles. Anything else means renewed
and continued disturbance. The bill under
consideration provides for II regulation Of
one species of property not common to
Others To see how far this is justitiable, IL
is well for us to consider the creation Of
railroads, and to understand how they are
created.
Railroad companies are organized under
the general laws Of the different states.
They have no exclusive privileges. They
are associations aided by these general
laws-laws OF which e.ery citizen, or any
number of citizens, may avail themselves
equally with those forming the railroad
company. In the mere fact of association
they may exist entirely without the aid of
the state. The association is as natural as
II Is for one man TO call In his neighbors to
help him raise his barn, or rUli Il saw log, or
to do any business not inconsistent with the
rights Of others The state gives, by virtue
of the incorporation laws, nothing to the
Incorporation. Whatever Of capital or
labor that Is contributed 10 them is entirely
private.
The ownership Of the labor and capital
provided Is private; as much so as the bank.
er's ownership Of his money, the farmers
ownership OF his farm, the teamster's
ownership of his team, and 80 on.
IL is private labor that builds the rail
nrpf fuI,l - .trf tL,,t A.,
thrown until the last spike is driven and the
road Is ready for business; aud then, when
IL is ready To operate, II Is all the product
ot Individual or private property.
But some VIII say the right of way was
given. In regard to that / think there is
much misrepresentation. Those who desire
TO build railroad, OF course, must in some
manner obtain the right of way on which
TO build IL, They appeal to the state on
the ground that the proposed investment
Is Of II highly beneficial character to the
public, and they ask the state To exercise It's
right OF eminent domain In order that the
road may be built. The state only can
exercise the right Of eminent domain for
the benefit OF the public, and then upon
Just compensation to be made 10 the owner
for whatever is taken. The state cOuli not
take private property for the benefit Of A,
b, G, d, L, +, and others.
NOW, up 10 this time everything In the
railroad has come from private sources, and
the labor belongs TO the individuals us much
as the labor of the man VINO tlls farm.
control Is the ESSENCE OF ownership. The
value OF the property is its income produc.
Ing quality. This bill strikes at the cOn-
troll, aud directly Affects the income-pro.
ducing capacity of the properties. Now, II
the investment Is legitimate, II It's nature Is
so highly beneficial that the state can do, to
aid It's construction, what 1t could not do
for the establishment of factory, or any
other legitimate business, wherein is the
reason for interference with the values and
the control Of this property No monopoly
is given To It; It interferes with no rights
previously existing, aud Is never used eX-
cept when II offers advantages TO the ship
per or traveller superior 10 those existing
before. II IL is a monopoly IL Is II beniilcent
one, chearening aud facilitating travel aud
commerce.
Now, IL the state has given nothing TO
this railroad company but what IL gives to
every other citizen; II 1t has put no money
in; II the company has no monopoly; II It's
services are necessarily Of beneficial char
acter, why should the state interfere with
W. oWnsrahip and with its iRGome-produo-